In an effort to boost Apple’s sales figures in India in the wake of slowing iPhone sales in China, the iPhone-maker may slash its price of its iPhone 5S from Rs 18,000 to Rs 15,000.

In an effort to boost Apple’s sales figures in India in the wake of slowing iPhone sales in China, the iPhone-maker may slash its price of its iPhone 5S from Rs 18,000 to Rs 15,000.(Apple)

You may soon be able to buy the iPhone 5S for as less as Rs 15,000 courtesy a planned price drop by Apple to boost its sales figure in India.

According to a Economic Times report that quoted three industry executives, Apple may price the four-year-old iPhone 5s around Rs 15,000 per unit -- a Rs 3,000 drop from Rs 18,000 -- as part of an online-exclusive retailing strategy.

The officials said that the company’s distributors have already informed the brick-and-mortar cellphone stores that iPhone 5S supplies will be eased out, and that the model would be sold only online - at an aggressive price point.

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They also hinted that the iPhone SE will become the entry handset for offline retail in India for Apple, carrying a price tag of Rs 20,000.

The alleged strategy decision from Apple comes at a time when iPhone sales are slowing down in China -- the company’s biggest market outside US. One of the officials pointed out that the Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 category has expanded 158% and hence Apple wants more market share in that segment.

iPhone SE too will operate in that price bracket in phases through cashback offers, one of the officials said. “The company will have a 10-12% pricing advantage for iPhone SE once it starts assembling it in India by next month,” he was quoted as saying.